Chapter 21

“Liv. You have to tell me when you meet someone, okay?”

“That won’t happen, Coryda.”

“You are pretty, smart, and cool, so there must be a lot of people around you who have a crush on you!”

Facing Coryda’s shining eyes, Liv held her forehead and shook her head.

“The medicine must be working because you’re so energetic. What a relief.”

“Don’t refuse everyone just because you think of me, okay?”

Coryda’s worried tone made Liv pause.

Coryda’s worries were reasonable. This was because she had met several times with men who showed a slight interest in Liv but showed reluctance when they found out that she had a sick sister with her.

She had never told Coryda about this, but her quick-witted sister quickly noticed the situation and felt sad. It was the reason why she was able to firmly tell the owner of the pharmacy not to set up a meeting for her anymore.

It had been a while since Liv had been introduced to a man, but Coryda always had that incident in her mind. She also seemed to be worried about Liv not being introduced to anyone anymore. Liv had tried hard to explain to Coryda that she was past the marriageable age, but to no avail.

“Because I’m fine…”

“It’s not because of you. I’m not interested in it. So let’s stop talking about this useless thing.”

The handkerchief seemed to have stimulated Coryda’s imagination. Liv knew that she should be happy that Coryda, who was always at home, could be so perky, but she didn’t like the topic of conversation. Liv picked up the handkerchief with an aloof look on her face.

Coryda seemed to get the wrong idea because she was showing fear in one handkerchief.

Liv decided to wash it first. The Marquis surely knew of her situation, so he wouldn’t be surprised or offended by the use of cheap soap.

And the Marquis’ proposal for the ‘extra work’

“And, Coryda. The side job I told you about the other day. I’m afraid I’ll be home a little later because I’ve got more work to do.”

“Really? You must be good at work!”

“Yes, I guess.”

Liv had no choice in the first place. Even though she didn’t hear the details of the work, it was a proposal with a fixed answer.

Liv turned toward the laundry room, clutching the handkerchief tightly.

***

The painting work was not long today either.

The artist tidied up the painting tools with a resigned face as if he was already used to the noise of another person interrupting him when he could concentrate on the work. Today, at least, he was able to move his hands busily and started coloring in earnest.

Demus glanced at the canvas, then shifted his gaze to the woman, who stood a little farther away, wearing her clothes in silence. The white skin disappeared along the skillful and fast hands. Demus lightly moistened his lips with his tongue and opened his mouth.

“I’d like to talk with the model for a moment, so leave with the carriage first.”

“Pardon? With, with Liv?”

The artist looked at Demus with a puzzled look on his face, and then nodded his head in surprise. He replied, “Understood, my Lord,” several times, and quickly gathered his things and left the studio.

Liv, who was looking at the artist’s back like a child watching her parents leave, swallowed her dry saliva. The nervous face looked pale.

Instead of saying something to her, Demus strode out of the studio. It was because the strong smell of paint made his head throbbing and nauseous. The studio was ventilated and cleaned frequently, but it was useless. The smell of paint in the studio grew thicker, and Demus had less time to hold out.

It was really troublesome.

Demus suddenly became tired and lazy of all this trouble. However, his irritation died down slightly as he heard footsteps coming from behind. That body, though, well.

He quite liked it.

Even though Demus didn’t bother to say anything, Liv quietly followed him. Demus liked the woman’s quick wit. In addition, the fact that she did not make a loud noise every time she moved, and her faint presence, barely noticeable, was not that bad.

Liv, unlike most people, did not try hard to get Demus’ attention. Rather, she seemed to try to stay out of Demus’s sight somehow.

Unfortunately, regardless of her efforts, she was quite a standout person.

“Prepare the tea.”

Entering the drawing room, he ordered the servant and casually sat on the sofa. Liv, who had followed him into the drawing room, hesitated for a moment and then sat up straight across from Demus.

The auburn hair, which had been disheveled until a while ago, was neatly tied up, and the clothes that were thoroughly buttoned up to the neck were too neat. It was simply the appearance of a great teacher.

Demus found Liv’s stark change in just a few minutes to be interesting. When he first found her, he never expected that she would be so interesting.